He needed answers. He needed to know his future, needed to know how all of this would end.
He paced, wracking his brain, when a figure popped into his mind: the witch.
Of course, she would know.
Gareth raced across the room, stopping only to put on his crown, his mantle, to carry his scepter, without which he would go nowhere. He needed answers-and fast.
*
Gareth marched quickly through the forest trail, heading deeper and deeper into Dark Wood, trying to shake the dark thoughts that had gripped him, that seemed to hang over him like a veil. His mind had not stopped racing since his dream, and he had found no respite in any corner of the castle. Everywhere he looked, he saw another monument to his father, felt another silent rebuke to his failure as a son, and now, his failure as King. He felt increasingly that this castle was a big tomb, a monument of ghosts, and that one day it would entomb him, too.
His father’s voice rang in his ears as he found himself reliving the dream, again and again.
As he pondered it all, pondered his failed hoisting of the Dynasty Sword, Gareth was struck with the idea that perhaps, after all, he was not destined to be King. Perhaps he was
He needed prophecy, like a man in the desert needed water. The witch had seen his future when he had first visited her; he felt that she would have the answers he needed, would tell him honestly what his destiny was. Until he knew, he could not rest.
Gareth marched along the forest trail, heading deeper and deeper, ignoring the sky as it turned black, as thick clouds rolled in, and as a summer rain suddenly hailed down, lashing him. He twisted and turned through the trails of Dark Wood, trying to remember his way back. He had hoped it would be a place that he would never return to, and was unpleasantly surprised to find himself back here so quickly.
The air got colder and he sensed an evil energy getting closer. There was no doubt that this was the place. He could feel it hanging in the air, oozing onto his skin, like a slime, even from here.
As Gareth pushed deeper, hurrying between a clump of thick trees, he saw it: there, in the clearing, sat her small stone cottage. Even the trees around the clearing were recognizable: twisted into unnatural shapes, with three red trees on its edge, one in each direction.
Gareth strode across it, hurrying to her cottage, and as he reached her door, he lifted the brass knocker and slammed it several times. It echoed with a hollow thud, and he waited and waited, to no avail, getting drenched in the rain. The sky was now nearly as black as night, even though it was morning.
Gareth slammed the knocker again and again.
“OPEN THIS DOOR!” he screamed.
He was flooded with panic, wondering what he would do if she were gone from this place.
He waited what felt like an eternity, and was just about to turn away, when suddenly, the door opened.
Gareth spun and looked inside.
He could see no one, nothing but blackness, the faint flicker of a candle coming from deep inside. He turned, surveyed the woods, made sure no one was watching, then he hurried inside, slamming the door behind them.
It was quiet in here, the only sound that of the rain hitting the stone roof, of the rain dripping off of him, onto the floor in a small puddle. He looked around, giving his eyes time to adjust. It was so dim in here, he could barely see the witch, on the far side of the room, could barely see her silhouette. Hunched over, fiddling with something, she looked more creepy and ominous than before. The room was filled with her stench-that of decay and rotting flesh. He could hardly breathe. He already regretted coming here. Had it been a mistake?
“So,” said the witch in her horse, mocking voice, “our new King comes to visit!”
She cackled, thrilled with her own statement. Gareth could not understand what was so funny. He hated her laughter. He hated everything about her.
“I have come for answers,” he said, taking a step towards her, trying to sound confident, trying to sound like a king, but hearing the shakiness in his own voice.
“I know why you have come,
There came a long silence, as she slowly made her way closer to him. Gareth did not know whether to run from her or rebuke her. She held a single candle up to her face, covered in warts and etched with lines.
“I cannot give you what you do not have,” she said slowly, breaking into an evil smile, revealing small, rotted teeth.
Gareth felt a chill climb up his back.
“What do you mean, ‘do not have’?” he asked.
“Destiny is what it is, boy,” she said.
“What does that mean?” he pressed urgently, having a sinking feeling. “Are you saying I’m not destined to be King?”
“There are many kings in this world. There are those greater than kings, too. Those with greater destinies- destinies that outshine yours.”
“Greater than mine?” he asked. “But I am King of the Western Kingdom of the Ring! The greatest free land left in the Empire. Who could possibly be greater than me?”
“Thorgrin,” she answered directly.
The name struck him like a knife.
“Thorgrin will be greater than you. Greater than all the MacGil Kings. Greater than any King that ever lived. And one day, you will bow down to him and beg him for mercy,” she said, her voice cackling.
Gareth felt sick at her pronouncement-most of all, because it felt so real. He could hardly conceive how it could be. Thor? An outsider boy? A mere Legion member? Greater than he? With one wave of his hand he could have him imprisoned and executed. How could he possibly be greater than he?
“Then change my destiny!” he commanded, frantic. “Make ME the greatest! Make ME hoist the sword!”
The witch leaned back and cackled, until Gareth could stand it no longer.
“You would be crushed under the weight of that sword,” she said. “You are king-for now. That should be enough. Make it enough. Because that is all you will ever have. And when what you have is done, you will pay the price. Blood will have blood.”
He felt a chill.
“What good is it to be king, if the kingship will not last?” Gareth asked.
“What good is it to live, if death must come?” she answered.
“I am your king!” he yelled. “I COMMAND YOU! HELP ME!”
He charged for her, aiming to grab her by the shoulders, to shake her into submission-but as he reached for her, he felt himself grabbing at nothing but air.
He spun around, searched the cottage-but it was empty.
Gareth turned and stumbled from the cottage, into the sky, and as he got drenched, icy water running down his face and neck, he welcomed the pouring rain. He wished it would wash away his dreams, this meeting, and everything ill he had ever done. He no longer wanted to be king. He just wanted another chance at life.
“FATHER!” he shrieked.
His voice rose up, higher into Dark Wood, louder even than the sound of the rain-and was met by the cry of a distant bird.
*
Godfrey walked quickly down the forest trail as the sky darkened and a cool wind picked up, forking onto the trail that led to Dark Wood. The wind howled and the sky grew darker as he went, and he felt the hairs rise on the back of his neck. He could sense evil in this place. As the skies opened and rain came pouring down, now, more than ever, he wished he had a drink. Or two.
As the reality of what he was doing began to sink in, a part of him became afraid. After all, what if he found this witch, and what if he found answers he did not like. What could he really do? Was this witch dangerous? And if Gareth caught him asking, couldn’t he have him imprisoned, too, along with Kendrick?
Godfrey doubled his pace, and as he rounded a small bend, he raised his head and was shocked at the sight.
